China's 2019 LNG Imports Hit Record

China imported a record 60.25mn metric tons of LNG last year, up 12.2% yr/yr, the customs department’s data published January 23 showed.  China remains the world's second-biggest LNG importer after Japan. 

Imports in December stood at 6.46mn mt, up 3.6% yr/yr but down a tad from 6.51mn mt in November. 

Meanwhile, China’s pipeline gas imports in 2019 came to 36.31mn mt, down 0.8% from the previous year. In December, pipeline gas shipments totalled 3.05mn mt, up 3.8% yr/yr, the data showed.